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Archives for December 2015

A Refugee’s Christmas Carol: Awet’s Story

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Tim Rowley in Rome, with illustrations from David Folvari | 18 December 2015 | The Telegraph More than 10,000 children travelled on their own to Europe in the last year alone. As Christmas approaches, [Awet]... told us about spending it in Italy, far from home and family, and their hopes for Christmas yet to come Last winter, the young refugees decorated their … [Read more...] about A Refugee’s Christmas Carol: Awet’s Story

Rwandan president Paul Kagame could rule until 2034 after voters lift limits

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Saturday 19 December 2015 | The Guardian The head of Rwanda’s electoral commission says partial referendum results show citizens want Paul Kagame to be able to serve another three terms The head of Rwanda’s electoral commission has said partial results show voters have opted to lift term limits in order to allow president Paul Kagame extend his … [Read more...] about Rwandan president Paul Kagame could rule until 2034 after voters lift limits

‘Stop the killing!’: farmland development scheme sparks fatal clashes in Ethiopia

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William Davison | Friday 18 December 2015 | The Guardian As government plans to build on Oromo farmland around Addis Ababa spark widespread protests, an increasingly brutal crackdown by the government has sparked fears that excessive force may become the norm he protesters wrapped the two bodies in blankets and plastic sheeting. On top, they placed pieces of … [Read more...] about ‘Stop the killing!’: farmland development scheme sparks fatal clashes in Ethiopia

How Britain and France laid the groundwork for Isis’s reign of terror in the Middle East

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Kim Sengupta | 17 December 2015 | The Independent The anger and hatred sown by the Sykes Picot agreement continue to this day, as do the conflicts caused by the deal One hundred years ago this week, Sir Mark Sykes was at a meeting in Downing Street persuading Herbert Asquith’s War Cabinet to accept a plan he had drawn up with the French diplomat, François … [Read more...] about How Britain and France laid the groundwork for Isis’s reign of terror in the Middle East

EU leaders struggle to reach migrant agreement at Brussels summit

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Ian Traynor in Brussels | Friday 18 December 2015 | The Guardian The fifth consecutive meeting focusing on the immigration crisis was blighted by deepening divisions and failure to follow through on past promises European leaders struggled on Thursday evening to agree on action to cope with the migration crisis amid ever deepening divisions, impotence, and … [Read more...] about EU leaders struggle to reach migrant agreement at Brussels summit

E.U. launches $2 billion plan to keep Africans from migrating

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Kevin Sieff | 16 December 2015 | The Washington Post NAIROBI — The European Union on Wednesday announced the start of a $2 billion initiative to curb illegal migration from Africa, an ambitious program that aims to tackle the root causes of a historic flight of Africans to Europe. The first $325 million in projects introduced Wednesday include efforts to increase … [Read more...] about E.U. launches $2 billion plan to keep Africans from migrating

Rwanda’s Leader Must Step Down

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 P. A. | 17 DEC. 2015 | The New York Times LONDON — On Friday, Rwanda votes in a referendum to amend its Constitution to allow President Paul Kagame to seek a third term. If it passes, as is likely, Mr. Kagame will be eligible to run in the 2017 presidential election. His victory in that contest is all but guaranteed, giving him another seven-year term and opening the way … [Read more...] about Rwanda’s Leader Must Step Down

‘American Idol’ Can’t Compete With Liberia’s ‘Integrity Idol’

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Carielle Doe | 17 December 2015 | NPR She was one of the five finalists in an American Idol-style competition. But she did not have to sing. This was Integrity Idol 2015 in Liberia. The candidates all worked for the government and had a record of integrity. The public voted by phone and by the Internet. The winner, announced this week, was Jugbeh Tarpleh Kekula. She's … [Read more...] about ‘American Idol’ Can’t Compete With Liberia’s ‘Integrity Idol’

South Sudan’s War Has Raged For Two Years, Making Some People Very Rich

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Charlotte Alfred | 12 December 2015| Huffington Post "Greed is driving the calculations of South Sudan’s government and rebel leaders," the leader of one advocacy group said. South Sudan on Tuesday marked a grim milestone. It's been two years since the rivalry between the nation’s top two leaders erupted into bloodshed on the streets of the capital city of Juba … [Read more...] about South Sudan’s War Has Raged For Two Years, Making Some People Very Rich

Ethiopia: Oromo Protests – Defiance Amidst Pain and Suffering

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ADDIS ABABA (HAN) December 16, 2015 – It all began on November 12th in Ginchi, a small town some 80 Kms South West of the Capital Addis Abeba. It is a town of not more than 50, 000 inhabitants, “95% of whom are Oromos”, a nation whose ethnic makeup is known to represent more than 35% of Ethiopia’s 90 million plus diverse population. But as far as the story of township … [Read more...] about Ethiopia: Oromo Protests – Defiance Amidst Pain and Suffering